Lee Westwood lifts lid on US Open furore

• Lee Westwood breaks silence on US Open ruling furore
• The Englishman commended for way he backed Johnson
• Calls for a rule change and says USGA’s ‘handling poor’

Lee Westwood has broken his silence on the USGA’s handling of the Dustin Johnson ruling, saying the whole situation was ‘handled poorly’ and has called for a change to be made before the Open.

Westwood was playing alongside the American in the penultimate group at Oakmont on Sunday, where he and caddie Billy Foster were overheard backing Johnson after the incident on the fifth green.

Read more -> Players slam USGA over DJ ruling ‘farce’

After Johnson was informed that he may be penalised on the 12th tee, Westwood – who was by then well out of the tournament en route to a final round 80 – and Foster then supported the American to help ensure that he clinched his maiden major title.

And, speaking to Steve Elling on Twitter today, he gave an insight into what he thought in the midst of the furore.

@EllingYelling @DaveCC1109 @USGA it’s a rule that needs addressing and probably before @TheOpen. A bit vague and open to interpretation.

— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) June 21, 2016

@EllingYelling I expressed my opinion immediately on the 5th green. That was the end of it as far as I was concerned.

— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) June 21, 2016

@EllingYelling Billy my caddie agreed and the walking rules official too. We were told on the 12th tee that there might be an issue with it.

— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) June 21, 2016

@EllingYelling the disappointing thing for me was that nobody could make a decision there and then which resulted in DJ playing the last 6

— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) June 21, 2016

@EllingYelling not knowing where he stood and the rest of the contenders not knowing their situation. Handled poorly and I told them.

— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) June 21, 2016

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Lee Westwood :: Do you agree?

Do you agree with Westwood on the USGA’s handling of the situation? And do you believe the rule should be changed ahead of the Open? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.